Keyboard and staff reader



Nov. 24, 1931. E. L. BUXTON 1,833,204

KEYBOARD AND STAFF READER Filed Oct. 24. 1929 ,ll .llll

ATTbRNEY 1 j? "/0 7 V Patented Na. 24, 1931 .v

mmmm 7 Mann m nux'roiv, or Kansas, any, mssounr I xmoann NDsrArF READER.

Application."flled 0ctober 24,1929. S erial No. 402,246.

, -My invention relates to keyboard and staff readers, for primarystudents, of musical instruments, andzhas for its principal objectstofacilitate learning of the relationship be- '5 tween a keyboard and astaff, to affordtaetual aswell as visual guidance for ascertaining saidrelationsh1p,'to,emphasize the distinctionsbetween sets ofjkeys and aplurality of:

staffs, and to simplify-the construction and i6 operation of; keyboardand staff readers.-

In accomplishing theseand other objects of the invention-,1have-provided improved deta ls. of structure, the preferred forms ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying '15 drawings, whereini l TFig. 1 is aperspective view of a keyboard and stafl reader embodying myinvention. F Fig. '2 is a cross section on the line 2-2,

l teferring in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a support or frame preferably comprislng a board having arepresentation of a keyboard at one edge formed by transverse lines 2defining spaces 3 representing 26' white keys of a piano keyboard, andrec tangular insets 4 in said spaces to represent black keys.

The frame is further provided with sets of lines 5 and 6 representinlines and defining spaces of musical sta s, and with indicia 7 and 8comprising respectivel the treble-and base-clef signs locatedin-sultable positions staffs. o a V The staffs are suitably related tothe white keys so that a student selectin a degree or itch, i. e. a lineor space on t e staff, may follow the extended degree andidentify thekey corresponding thereto, or may identify degrees corresponding tokeys.

To facilitate identification of keys and 7 note vpositions on thestaffs, guides 9 are mounted on the frame in overlying relation with thepositions of the lines and spaces of l the stafli's, for slidablysupporting buttons 10 bearing letters indicating the several positions.

The guides extend outwardly from the face ofthe frame, for facilitatingmovement of with reference to the respective prise wires spaced from thekeyboardby edge ribs or bridges 11 and suitably anchored to the frame toconfer relative rigidity on the guides. 1 m y l The two'staifs arespaced as in a conven tional musical score'to afford an area to re ceiveguides" and buttons representing positions of added or legerlin'esandspaces or degrees, for pitches respectivel below thetreble clef andabove the bass clef and identifying corresponding keys on thelkeyboardTherbuttons 10 are preferably perforated and threaded on the wires.Meansforns' suring vertical position-of the buttons to assure visibilityof indicia' onthefaces thereof, and to effect location of theindicia-sup porting portions of the buttons in proper re lation with thedegrees of the staffs, preferably comprises depending button portions 12forming elongated weighted lower ends} thereo Tabs 13 bearing sharp andflat key indicia are'ad'apted to be mounted on the frame; in suitablerelation with the degrees to comprise a key-signature, andpreferably'comprise clips that may be mounted on the guides adjacent theclefs. y

In order to indicate the sharped' or fl'atted notes and black keys to beplayed in accord-- ance with the key'signature, theblack keys areprovided with sockets 14 to receive pins- 15' bearing sharp and flatindicia.

The board is preferably cut out to define an opening'16,and form panels17 and 18 respectively-at the left andrighthandsides of the frame intheillustratedapplication of the invention;

x The right hand panel 18' bears the representation of the keyboard, theinner margin l 9'thereof comprising the inner end margins of thewhitekeys;

flush with'said margin 19, and the rear end; edges of the white keys,wherebythe student; positioning the frame with thepanel: 18 ad'- jacenthis person, will find the representatifon *ofzthe keyboard positioned.normally and corresponding to therelative positions of black and whitekeys on a pianov keyboard. 1?;

- v The inner ends of theblack keys are. set

lithe buttons therealong, and preferably com :4 orpinsQQ are mountedonythe black I.

keys at their inner ends, to form protuberant members for simulating theelevated character of black keys on a piano keyboard, and providingmeans for distinguishing said keys by the sense of touch.

The wires span the frame opening and the clef members preferablycomprise cutouts or skeleton forms mounted on the wires.

In order to further enhance the suggestiveness of the association ofstaffs and degrees thereof with the keyboard, the treble clefand markerstherefor are mounted in positions where they are readily available tothe right hand of the user, and the bass clef and markers therefor aremounted for access by the left hand of the user. The student mayposition the frame horizontally, and extends ing forwardly with thepanel 18 adjacent his person, whereby his right hand may have easyaccess to the treble staff features, and his left hand may have easyaccess to the bass staff features, for learning the relations beltiweenthe pitchindicating elements and the fall of the Wires may extendentirely around the frame and in any event the Wire port-ions thatsupport markers have outer terminal portions supported in spacedrelation with theframe by bridges at the outer edges of the keyboard tofacilitate movement of the membersfrom retracted position adjacent theclefs over the panel 18 to positions where they indicate keyscorresponding to degrees. The markers may frictionally engage thekeyboard panel and be latched thereby in degree-indicating positions.

Due to the open character of the frame, and the visibility of the clefsigns and guides through the opening, the device may bepositionedvertically and operated as a harp. To facilitate the use of the devicein vertical position, similar representations of the keyboard arepreferably provided on both sides of the panel 18, and the bottoms areadapted to display theirsymbols in the desired position of the frame.WVhen the frame is primarily intended for verticalpositioning, thebuttonswill be weightedto show symbols on their sides. Additional setsof buttons 21 may be provided on the por tions of guide wires extendingon -the'opposite side of the frame from the front side in the figure.The clef signs are located be-. tween the sets of wires forming thedouble series of staffs, and supportedby brackets 22, forming aharp-like device adapted to be held vertically with'the clef edge ofthe. frame adjacent the person, the treble staff thus being mostaccessible to the right han and the bass clef to the left. hand.

The student may position the frame horizontally with the keyboard solocated-that the black keys are inset from the front edges of the whitekeys, and the treble clef is at his right hand. When staff guides arevisible and accessible from opposite sides of the frame, as in the openframe structure shown, the frame may be positioned vertically in asimilar relation and the outer edge of the keyboard from the standpointof the student will extend toward the clef signs.

The student may move the markers back and forth on the guides foridentifying keyboard keyscorresponding to staff degrees, ordegreescorresponding to keys. Tabs may be mounted on the guides todesignate key signatures,'and pins may be installed on the black keys toindicate the sharping and fiatting of notes. 7 I

What I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent is: a

A keyboard and staff reader comprising a frame including a board bearingrepresentations of a piano keyboardand a musical staff, guides supportedby the frame running from lines and spaces of the staff intocorresponding keys of the keyboard, means spacing the guides from thekeyboard, and markers selectively'movablealong the guides over thekeyboard.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' ETHEL LEE BUXTON.

